Shoe-fastener



(No Model.)

S. S. KNAPP 8: E. BROWNE SHOE FASTENER.

Patented Dec. 28

NITED STATES PATENT Erica.

SAMUEL S. KNAPP-AND ELLIOT BROWVNE, OF ABINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SIHOE=FASTENER.

QPECIFICATEQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,092, dated December 28, 1886.

Application filed August 6, 1886. Serial No. 210,215. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL S. KNAPP and ELLIOT BROWNE,of Abingtomin the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and ImprovedShoe-Fastener, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to shoe fasteners adapted for use in connection with a single lace, which fastener may be adjusted upon the lace at such distance from the end thereof and remain so adjusted as that sufficient length only intervenes to properly lace the boot or shoe and unite it at the top.

The invention consists in the construction of the fastener, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe with our fastener attached, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the fastener in a locked position. Fig. 3 is also an enlarged view of the fastener, illustrating the application of an extra hitch for use with flat laces.

A represents the uppers of a shoe, provided with the usual number of eyelets therein, and having the studs a arranged alternately upon each side to accommodate a single lace, 5, used to unite the same over the foot. The lace b, after having been passed from the inside of the shoe out through the lower'eyelet, is carried over the intersecting upper and entered in the opposite eyelet upon the other side through a loop, 1), formed in the inner end of said lace, up out of the next opposite eyelet, and so on in the usual manner across the uppers until the last eyelet has been entered. The lace I) is then carried into engagement with the alter nately-arranged studs at until the one next the top in one side is reached.

The fastener B, providedfor use in connection with the lace b, and which is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, is constructed of a propersized wire bent around and upon itself to form four grouped rings, 1, 2, 3, and 4, the upper and lower receiving-rings, 2 and 3, being substantially of the same diameter,and the outer clamping-ring,1, slightly larger, while the opor less elongated,and larger than either of the aforesaid rings. The rings 2 and 3 are made of such diameter as that the lace will be held moderately tight therein, and the ring 1 specially of a diameter as that when the lace has been passed through twice enough friction will be had therein'to constitute a secure tie, and the arrangement of the said rings is such that they-are all approximately in the same plane.

After the lace has engaged the top stud, a, upon one side the end thereof is passed. under and up through the ring 1 of the fastener B and down through the'under ring, 8, and then up through the'upper ring, 2. The lace as now looped through the fastener permits the said fastener to readily slide up and down thereon. The lace is now drawn as tight as desired,and the fastenerB is slid down thereon close enough to the stud a upon one side to permit an easy and proper engagement of the hooking-ring 4 with the top and last stud on the opposite side of the uppers A. When this has been accomplished, the end of the lace is once more passed through the clamping-ring 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and l of the drawings, securing thereby the fastener 13 securely to the lace b. The hook'ring 4 is now passed over the aforesaid top stud and thefastening is accomplished. When the adjustment, as abo ve described ,is once made, the fastener need not be disturbed unless the lace stretches. In that event one hitch of the lace is removed and the slack taken up. Thus by the use of the aforesaid fastener and a single lace a boot or shoe may be easilylaced and secured with one hand, all knots being thereby dispensed with, and the ofttimes distressing position necessitated by the employment of both hands to lace and fasten a boot or shoe obviated. To un fasten the shoe the ring 4 is simply disconnected from the stud a.

posite outer hookingring, 4, is formed more Our invention may be used to unite or fasten 4 together any form of covering for the body wherein lacing is accomplished by means of eyelets or studs and a single lace, as shown. It is, however, specially adapted for use with boots and shoes.

WVhen a very thin or flat lace is used, there may not be friction enough to firmly tie the same when passed through the fastener, as

aforesaid, and in that event the end may be passed a third time through ring 1, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As an improved article of manufacture, a boot or shoe fastener consisting of a wire bent in opposite directions at each side of its center to form the two side rings, 2 and 3, the two parts of the wire crossing the central point thereof on the same side and being then bent to form the one large end ring 1, and the other yet larger and slightlyelongated end ring 4, I

all arranged approximatelyin the same plane, I 5

substantially as described, whereby the said fastener is adapted to receive a shoe-lace through the side loops therein and one end loop, and to engage a stud upon a boot 0r shoe with the remaining end loop, as set forth.

SAML. S. KNA PP. ELLIOT- BROVVNE.

Witnesses:

CYRUS NELsoN, GEORGE H. WILLL'Y. 

